End stop for slide fasteners



M. WINTERHALTER END STOP FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Sept. 12, 1950 2SheetsSheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1945 Sept. 12, 1950 M. WINTERHALTER ENDSTOP FOR sums FASTENERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2 5, 1945 [nverzfor? Mr'izinmhierhawr MM,W+ mm! Patented Sept. 12, 1950 sw m srArss PATENT OFFICE 7 2,522,327: l lzri eri l t c i g iii s vitzefijndApplication January 23, assess No. 574,073

I .In Switzerland October 6, 1944 Thi invention relates to separableslide fas'- teners and more particularly to the provisionof an improvedend stop fo limiting the move ment of the, slider longitudinally of thestringers in one direction and for uniting the two stringers atone endthereof I For permanently uniting the ends of the stringers of aseparable fastener usually an end stop is used which in case of metallicfastener elements. is formed as a metallic clipattached to the, twostringer tapes for securing the adjacent edges of the tapes one to theother. In case of non-metallic fastener elements consist- 6 Claims. (c1.24-205.11)

ing ofthermoplastic material the end stop can Figs. 10 and 11 aretransverse sections of a still further modified end stop before andafter securin of the coupling clamp.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the two parts of the end stop accordingto'Fig. 2 without the coupling clamp.

be removed from the tapes in order to enable.

the new slider to be pulled on the stringers. Such removal however isdifficult or even impossible and the tapes can easily'be hurt; usuallytapes by die-casting, and comprising 'an endstop which need not beremoved for changing the slider, but which can remain on the tapes.

uniting the two tapes at one end of the stringers comprises two partswhich are each secured to one tape by die-casting and coupled to "eachother by means of a clamp inserted in the two parts. In this case, forchanging a slider only the clamp must be removed from the two parts ofthe end stop, while the two parts themselves According to theinventiontheend stop forpling sockets formed as grooves.

remain on the tapes, and since then the two which is secured tothe'tapes and these latter are not injured by disengaging thecouplingclamp from the two parts of the end stop.

Certain preferred embodiments of my invention I are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings,

in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a part of a fastener Fig. 4 is a transversesection through the end i stop along the line'IV-"'IV of Fig. 2.

the line Fig. 13 is a similar View of the two parts of the end stop fromthe opposite side.

Figs. 14 and 15 show a fastener element seen from two opposite sides.

The separable fastener shown in Figs. 1 to 5 comprises fastener elementsupporting tapes I and 2 having and edge head 3 to which the fastenerelements 4 are directly secured by means of die-casting or pressurecasting. For uniting the two tapes at that end of the fastener whichremains closed there is provided an end stop S formed oftwo separateparts 5 and 6 which consist of the same material as the fastenerelements 4. These parts 5 and 6 are die-cast on the tapes I and 2 in thesame casting operation together with the elements 4. The fastenerelements and the end stop can consist of metal, such as cast zinc, or ofa thermoplastic material, as for exampleof a high molecularcondensation'product such as known under the name of nylon, or the like.

The fastener elements 4 comprise a coupling head which is provided onopposite sides with coupling projections formed as ribs and with cou-Referring to Figs. 2, 3, l4 and 15, the coupling head of the elements isprovided on one side with two ribs 1 and 8 and with two grooves 9 andIll, while the opposite side of the coupling head is provided with tworibs l l and I2 and with two grooves I3 and 14. The ribs 8 and I! extendfrom one side face of the element to surfaces It and It, respectively,each of these surfaces being posi- ;;;tioned at substantially one halfof the width of the element and parallel with the common plane of thetwo tapes I and 2. The rib 1 extends from the opposite side of theelement to a surface I? also situated atsubstantially one half of the 1width of the elementv and parallel with the common plane of the twotapes I and 2. The rib H extends from the same side of the element tothe surface I 6. The groove Illextends through the same width as the rib8 from one side face of 1 the element to the surface ll, while from thissurface ii the groove extends through the same width as the rib "i tothe opposite side face of the element. On the other side of the couplinghead the groove 53 extends through the same width as the rib ii from oneside face of the element to the surface It, and the groove [4 extendsfrom the opposite side face of the element to a surface it, alsosituated at substantially one half of the width of the element.

When the fastener elements are coupled by means of a usual slider l9(Fig. 1), the ribs 1 and 8 of one element of a stringer penetrate intothe grooves i3 and Hi of one adjacent element of the other stringer andthe ribs II and I2 of the first element penetrate into the grooves 9 andH] of the other adjacent element. Simultaneously with this engagement ofcooperating ribs and grooves, the surfaces iii and ii of one elementpass over the surfaces It and it of the adjacent element. These surfacesextending transversely to the ribs and grooves prevent a disengagementof two coupled elements in both directions at right angles to the commonplane of the two tapes l and 2.

he two parts 5 and t of the end stop are also provided withinterengaging projections and recesses which prevent a relativedisplacement of the two parts in longitudinal direction, and cooperatinsurfaces extending parallel with the common plane of the two tapes 1 and2 which prevent a relative displacement of the two parts at right anglesto the said plane. The part 5 of the end stop is provided with aprojection 20 which extends from one side face of the part to a surface25 situated substantially at one half the width of the part, whichsurface is parallel with the common plane of the two tapes i and 2. Thisprojection 2e penetrates into a recess 22 of the part is which alsoextends from one side face of the part to a surface 23, which surface issituated substantially at one half of the width of the part and isparallel with the common plane of the two tapes. The part 5 also isprovided with a similarly positioned surface. A projection '25 extendsfrom this surface 2 to one side face of the part, and a recess 26extends from the surface 2 1 A towards the opposite side until the otherside face of the part. A further surface 27 of the part 5 extends atsubstantially one half of the width of the part and parallel with thecommon plane of the two tapes i and 2. This surface 2'! forms one sideof a projection 28 and one side of a recess 23. When the two parts 5 andii of the end stop are joined together the projection 25 engages intothe recess 29 and the projection 28 into the recess while the surface 24of one part passes over the surface 2": of the other part. Since thesurfaces 2i and 2'? of the part 5, and the surfaces 23 and 2 of the part65 are facing towards opposite sides the joined parts 5 and 6, owing tothese surfaces passing one over the other, cannot move relatively toeach other transversely to the 00111- mon plane of the tapes l and 2.while a relative displacement of the two parts 5 and E in longitudinaldirection with regard to the fastener is prevented by the engagement ofthe projection 20 of the part 5 into the recess 22 of the part 5.

The joined parts 5 and 5 of the end stop are coupled by a U-shapedmetallic clamp 30. The two branches 3% of the clamp penetrate throughslots 3i and 32 provided at opposite side faces of the two joined parts,while the central portion 33 of the clamp is partially sunk in recesses34 and 35 provided on one face of the two parts 5 and 5. As shown inFig. 5, the clamp :is inserted with its two branches into the slots 31and 32, the branches being stuck through the tapes I and 2. The branchesof the clamp are slightly longer than the height of the two parts 5 and6 of the end stop and after insertion into the slots 31 and 32 theprojecting ends of the branches are upset or riveted in order to obtaina rigid connection between the clamp and the two par-ts '5 and 6. Whenthe two parts of the end stop are die-cast of a thermoplastic material,such as nylon or polyamide, which is slightly elastic and softer thanthe metal of the clamp, the upsetting of the ends of the clamp producesa compression of the material of the parts 5 and 6 as shown in Fig. 4,so that the upset or riveted ends of the clamp overlie the edges of theparts 5 and 8 and firmly secure the clamp to the'two parts. These lattercannot separate any more and remain in their interengaged position.

The central portion 33 of the clamp 30 projecting beyond the outer faceof the two parts 5 and 6 serves as stop for limiting the movement of theslider H], as shown in Fig. 1. Owing to this projecting clamp the slidercannot be lowered so far that the wedge portion 36 of the slider abutsagainst the end stop, or that the two parts 5 and 5 of the end stop areurged into the diverging guide passages of the slider; accordingly thetwo parts 5 and 6 are not subjected to any effort tending to separatethem. In this manner, the clamp 30 itself is never subjected to anyconsiderable stress, since its purpose is only to hold the two "parts 5and '6 together, but these parts are not subjected to any effort tendingto pull them out of engagement with each other.

When anew slider is to be engaged on the stringers of the fastener, theclamp can be removed from engagement with the two parts 5 and t 'bymeans of an appropriate tool. Then the old slider can be pulled off fromthe stringers and a new one can be engaged thereon without requiring toremove the end stop members -5 and 6 from the tapes 1 and 2, which wouldbe impossible with the members die-cast directly on the tapes.

The part 6 of the end stop -on the tape 2 has its side facing the lastfastener element 4 provided with'coupling ribs 1 and 8, and withcoupling grooves 9 and 10, like one side of the coupling head of thefastener elements 4. When the two stringers are coupled by means of theslider 49, the ribs 1 and -'8 of the part 6 engage with the grooves l3and [4 of the last fastener element '4 on the tape 1, and the ribs l1and I2 of this element-"engage with the grooves 9 and I 0 of the part 6.

Referring to Fig. '1, the upper 'open ends of the stringers are eachprovided with an end stop -40 which is also die-cast 'on the tapes I and2 in the same casting operation together with the fastener elements '4and the lower end stop 5 and 6. The two end stops 40 have a length equalto the distance 'between two successive fastener elements, and foraesthetical reasons, the opposite side faces of the two stops '65 areformed with'the outer contour of two fastener elements which are rigidlyconnected by a central web 4|. These stops 4B limit the upward movementof the slider, since they abut against each other int-he interiorof theslider and can accordingly not :pass out of the guide channel thereof.

When the end stop 5, 6 is not formed of thermoplastic material, but 'ofmetal, as for example of cast zincf the "ends of the "clamp 80 cannot bepressed into the parts 5 and 6 simply by an upsetting or rivetingoperation, since the material of the end stop-parts is in this case too.

hard. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the parts 5 and B are provided withnotches 31 into which the material of the clamp ends can penetrate whenthese ends are upset, so as to produce a firm connection between theclamp and the two parts 5 and 6. p

In the example according to Figs. 3 and 9 the branches of the clamp 3%are not passed through slots in the outer faces of the two parts of theend stop, but through tapering holes 38 provided in the two parts 5 and9. When these parts consist of thermoplastic material, this latter iscompressed upon forcing the branches of the clamp into the holes 38 ofdecreasing diameter, thus producing a frictional engagement between theclamp and the two parts. For greater security of the connection the endsof the branches of the clamp are riveted as shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to Figs, 10 and 11, the end stops 5 and t are made of castzinc. The holes for insertion of the clamp are cylindrical and formedwith enlarged ends 33 into which the ends of the branches can beriveted. In this example the central web of the clamp is entirely sunkinto the recesses 34 and 35 of the parts 5 and E, and accordingly doesnot act as limiting abutment for the movement of the slider. This latteris stopped by abutment of the wedge 36 against the end stop members 5and 6.

The advantages of the described fastener are that the stringers can becast together with the end stops on both ends thereof by a singlecasting operation in the same die and the two part end stop 5, 6 allowsto readily exchange a slider for another one. Further, when the fastenerelements and the end stop members consist of thermoplastic material, thecoloring of the fastener elements and of the end stop member isabsolutely identical, since they are cast simultaneously in a singleoperation and accordingly from the same supply of material.

The particular slide fastener disclosed is merely illustrative of onetype of fastener which may be employed, and it is to be understood thatthe above described structure is in no wise limiting, and I desire tocomprehend within my invention all modifications included within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with separable fastener stringers having a slider, ofan end coupling comprising a coupling member fixedly secured to onestringer and a coupling member fixedly secured to the other stringer,said coupling members having interengaging projections and recessesreleasable in a direction cross-Wise of said stringers, saidinterengaging projections and recesses interlocking said couplingmembers against substantial relative movement in both directionslongitudinally of the stringers, and normal to the plane of thestringers, both of which members are adapted to pass through the sliderto permit removal of the latter from the stringers, and a removable partcarried by said members and secured to both of them for fixedly holdingthem against movement in all directions whereby to hold saidinterlocking portions of said members in engagement in all positions .ofthe slider longitudinally of the stringers, said part having a portionserving as an end stop for the slider.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which the removable part isin the form of a U- shaped member embracing the two coupling members.

3. The combination according to claim 1 in which'the removable part isin the form of a U- shaped member embracing the two coupling members,with the opposite legs of the U extending through the stringers.

4. The combination according to claim 1 in which the removable part isin the form of a U- shaped member having opposite legs and a base, thecoupling members having exterior grooves for receiving said legs andbase with said U-shaped member in embracing relation to said couplingmembers, with said base extending across said coupling members and saidlegs lying at those sides of said coupling members which are remote fromeach other, the terminal portions of said legs extending inwardly towardeach other at the sides of said coupling members opposite said base forengaging said coupling members for securing said U-shaped member inassembled relation therewith.

5. The combination with separable fastener" stringers having a slider,of an end coupling comprising a coupling member fixedly secured to onestringer and a second coupling member fixedly secured to the otherstringer, said coupling members having interengaging projections andrecesses releasable in a direction cross-wise-of said stringers, saidinterengaging projections and recesses interlocking said couplingmembers against substantial relative movement in directionslongitudinally of the stringers and normal to the plane of thestringers, both of which members are adapted to pass through the sliderto permit removal of the latter from the stringers, said members beingformed with exterior grooves collectively forming when the members arein assembled relation an exterior groove having at least a portionextending over both members transverse to the stringers, a U-shapedclamp embracing said members for against separation, the legs of saidclamp passing through the stringers, interior edge portions of saidU-shaped clamp being received in said portion of said groove and fittingits opposite lateral walls for relieving said interlocking portions ofsaid members against strains longitudinally of the stringers, andexterior edge portions of said U-shaped clamp projecting from saidgroove for acting as an end stop for the slider, the free end portionsof said U-shaped clamp extending toward each other over the sides ofsaid members opposite said portion of said groove for securing saidclamp to said members, said clamp being of deformable material forpermitting its ready removal from said members.

6. The combination according to claim 1 in which each of the couplingmembers is formed with a perforation, and the removable part is in theform of a U-shaped member having opposite legs received in saidperforations.

MARTIN WINTERHALTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS holding them

